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Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat joins farmers’ protest; says government’s priority should be to resolve their problems

Olympic wrestler Vinesh Phogat on August 31 attended the ongoing 200 days long farmers’ protest being staged in support of their long pending demands including a legal guarantee for purchasing their crops at a minimum support price (MSP) in Punjab’s Shambhu village.

Coming out in support of farmers’, Phogat said, “I have come to extend support to my family... the farmers of the country are in trouble, their problems should be resolved, in fact, it should be the first priority of the government to resolve their issues.”

“...the government should listen to farmers. The government after the previous farmers’ protest (referring to the year-long farmers’ protest on farm laws) made a few promises to them, which it should fulfil. If the people of the country keep sitting (for protest) on the road it’s not good for the country... It’s been 200 days that farmers have been in protest but, sadly, the government is not listening,” Phogat said at Shambhu, where she was felicitated by the protesting farmers.

Saying that it hurts to see the farmers protesting for their legitimate demands, she added, “At times we feel helpless at not being able to do anything for them. We represent the country at international levels but we could not do anything for our own family [farmers]. I have come here to tell you that your daughter is with you. I request the government to listen to them.”

Notably, multiple four rounds of meetings were held between the Centre and the farmers’ leaders before the Lok Sabha election but it didn’t result in anything concrete.

Meanwhile, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher claimed that the farmer’s agitation has been going on since 13 February in Delhi and they are going to have a maha panchayat in Jind on September 15 and in Pipli on September 22.

Pandher also alleged the centre for misusing central agencies and as the election is scheduled in Haryana, the BJP is scared of the farmer’s protest. Notably, farmers are protesting at the Shambhu border near Ambala and have been camping there since February 13.

Pandher said, “Delhi agitation has been going on since 13 February. Attempts were made to crush this agitation, forces were deployed, 433 farmers were injured, Shubhkaran Singh lost his life and around 70,000 paramilitary personnel were deployed in Haryana...This agitation has become a headache for the BJP government.”

Further making demands, Pandher asked the centre to open the border as they will advance towards Delhi on the completion of 200 days of farmers’ protest.

He said that farmers will demand the Central Government to open this route and let us advance to Delhi where we can peacefully demand the legal guarantee for MSP as well as other demands.